Tour De Yorkshire - Where were you?

[paulM]

So now the dust has settled and half the Brits are now out injured, what were your thoughts on the Tour and where did you see it?

We took our campervan To Reeth in Swaledale on Friday and stayed there for 2 nights. I wasnt aware but apparently Reeth is the most northerly point the Tour has ever been. We were at Scabba Wath which is actually a couple of Miles west of Reeth and the intention was to watch the riders going over Grinton Moor. There is actually a minor road from the campsite on the opposite side of the river which comes out on the climb so we took the bikes and just pedalled over. When we got there we just joined a solid mass of bodies walking and cycling but we managed to find a nice spot between the youth hostel and the left hand bend. This is a climb quite dear to me having been up it every year in December on the Tan hill ride. Always a cold and desolate place and I've usually been completely stuffed by the time I've got to it . I've always found it a hard climb so I was interested to see how quickly the riders went over it. We were there in good time but the crowds were just unbelievable. I knew they would be big but just couldnt believe how big! We were a bit disappointed with the freebies from the pre tour caravan - I have a key ring and Cath has a cap. We could have done with a small child with us but unfortunately our's couldn't understand what the fuss was all about and decided he was staying with his nanna's for the weekend (although he did get to see the Tour start in York).
Seeing Jens Voight away on his own was great and he was going so fast we almost missed him! But the bunch werent far behind. So within a couple of minutes the whole race has passed by. Its a funny old game - why would anyone want to stand at the side of a road for 4 hours for that? But we wouldnt have missed it for the world. And the best bit was an hour or so later we were sitting outside the Punch Bowl in Low Row sipping Theakstons and looking out at the fantastic panorama of Swaledale. Life doesnt get much better!
Watched the highlights when we got home on Sunday - it was quite moving and I'm a bit sad its all over. Next.......

[Rob]

.... sounds like we were less than 100m from you two..... About 50m before that sharp left over the little bridge. We too were there for 4 hours, watching the endless mass of humanity making their way up the hill.

Great to watch one of my all time heros away on his own, but with the bunch in pursuit. Then they rode away from us up through the noise and the crowd on the upper slope. Admit to being quite choked afterwards.

Then great ride back to the car in Catterick with hundreds of others. Me and Siobhan on the tandem, Claire with a very large saddle bag for the food and radio.

Cote de Grinton Moor will never feel the same again.....

[IanH]

Drove to Catterick very early then cycled to the Grinton climb with a rucksack full of food, flask, waterproofs, and arm and leg warmers etc got to the "king of the mountain" line and sat down behind the barriers where I waited for several hours getting quite cold in the cold breeze, glad I was well wrapped up though, talked to several Clifton riders as they made their way past on their way further down towards Reeth, Steen, Karl and Ian and family all sporting French style moustaches were next to me.

We had quite a lot of entertainment as several spectators raced each other on their bikes to the line some in fancy dress with several taking the opportunity of a photo under the gantry.

Managed to get a King of the mountains cap from the caravan but no Haribo's, amazing what speed all the vehicles came past us between the barriers then Jens Voight sped across the line with the bunch right behind him but what a ride he had, it was an amazing experience and still couldn't believe that I was watching the tour pass on a climb I have done several times, then it was all over but an amazing sight as I rode back down the road alongside all the masses making their way home, great to have a good tailwind back to Catterick and the opportunity to get warm again.

Watched the start from the racecourse in York on Sunday with Dave C in the stands right in front of the presentation stand, enjoyed the rest of the race there watching it on the screens between trips to the bar before making our way back home through the fantastic street party on Bishy Road, a proud weekend to be a Yorkshireman.

Ian H.

[Darren N]

Last weekend raced straight in to one of my top 2 cycling weekends of all time, just an amazing experience on both days. We picnicked at Wormald Green near Burton Leonard on Saturday, saw various Cliftonites throughout the day, then got a place on the barriers in front of the Minster on Sunday.

While the emotions are running hot, can I kindly ask (beg!) you to please pick your best 1 or 2 photos, write 1 or 2 short paras max, and send them to cliftonite@cliftoncc.org. If you are sending photos, don’t forget to tell us where you are located. We want to produce a great edition this year so that when it gets to the depths of Winter, you can relive your TdF experiences by reading the Cliftonite. 1 photo & 1 para: probably equates to 10 enjoyable minutes. Please give it a go while the memories are fresh and the passion is there.

Thanks heaps

D.

[Broom Wagon]

Strange what Rob mentioned about feeling choked up - there were times when I felt the same. Everything worked out better than I could have hoped. On the Saturday I rode up to Aysgarth – via the actual TDF route (closed to cars) from Ripon – it was amazing to see what was going on all along the route. At Aysgarth the road was locked down but I jumped over a hedge an walked a couple of fields to get myself stood on a wall overlooking the road. Watched the cavalcade come through for a couple of hours and then (shut up legs) Jens Voigt came through like a blur. The peloton came through shortly after – it was moving so fast I could only pick out Richie Porte. Then with about two thousand other cyclists we all belted across country to pick up the tour at Leyburn. It was amazing as lot of the team cars were coming through as they were using it as short cut too. Leyburn was in lock down – you couldn’t move, but I managed with a few other cyclists to sneak into someone’s garden and scramble to the top of a high wall overlooking the road. You might have seen the clip on look North with the police motorcycle rider riding down the crowd high fiveing everyone. I was watching from the wall on the other side.

On Sunday we had tickets for the grand depart on York race course – I took the missis and the kids but we went in the back way to where all the team buses were parked, various pro milling about – Mark Cavendish being interviewed, Thomas Vockler, David Millar was there too. I think most people missed out because they went into the stands the front way, whereas we had a quiet spot on an embankment on the way between the start and the team buses so we saw them all, many warming up and stopping to talk to fans. We got great photographs of all the main men. We then nipped across to the road out from the race course and I got my youngest into a tree with a superb view. My kids hate cycling and everything to do with it because that’s something that dad does, but he was absolutely blown away with it all when they came past.

I’ll never forget it….

[RichardD]

TimJ, another friend of mine, and I parked at Well and then cycled to Grinton via Masham along the route. Plenty of people already lining the roadside as we cycled on blissfully traffic free roads getting the odd cheer along the way to Leyburn, lots of smiles and 'good mornings'. Quick coffee break before the climb out and chanced upon DrDave and saw a few other Cliftonites pass us by or on the way up to the moor. Stood at the steeper part of the climb overlooking the bend (apparently where Rob and PaulM were) with a good view of Swaledale. Great atmosphere. Lots of cheering of small children on bikes struggling up the climb to viewing points further up. Also spotted a white bull terrier 'painted' with red spots for the occassion. I was not the only grown man behaving like a 10 year old as the caravan came by trying to catch various bits of tat thrown from a van advertising Mccains frozen chips or Ibis hotels (got a Carrefour cap). Sheffield Hallam University were also represented in the caravan and someone asked what they were giving away. 'Degrees!' someone shouted.
Got a good view via binoculars as the riders came out of Swaledale, down Reeth's main street, disappeared for a few minutes then emerged below from the climb passed the hostel. Voigt still had a 30 sec lead on the peleton as he went by us and not sure how he stayed on given the crowds and bellowing in both ears. Less than a minute later and it was all over.
The ride back down was packed and we watched the finish on the big screen at Leyburn, followed by another lovely ride in the sun back along closed roads to Well.
On Sunday had tickets to the racecourse and then popped along to Rowntree park and Bishopthorpe road, before watching the rest of the stage at home.
In many ways a surreal two days. Although a recent convert to cycling, I agree with Rob and Paul, it was quite emotional. Not sure how it must feel for those that have ridden the same roads for decades when the Tour in the UK meant an hour on a Saturday afternoon with Dickie Davies on World of Sport (giving my age away).

[PhilBixby]

Was unexpectedly "with daughter" on Saturday. We turned up at the Station around eleven aiming to get the train to Harrogate, but Platform 8 was a mass of bodies, only half of which were removed by the first train out. We baled out, and via watching the first few miles at Your Bike Shed picked up the car and headed for Burton Leonard. Car abandoned on verge, it was a short walk in the company of many to the A61. Highlights? The atmosphere, the police motorcyclist high-fiving the crowd ("I'm going to have to swap over, me arm's worn out"), the bloke with the hunting horn, the fat lad in the "Fat Lad At The Back" jersey and the incredibly focussed-looking sprint trains as they hammered past.

Sunday started in Bishy Road - how the hell did le Tour de France end up going past my partner's deli? (May explain why she had a stripy t-shirt and a curly moustache, though). Amazing atmosphere - students on top of their bay window disco dancing to speakers on the windowcills, and a solid mass of people pressed against the barriers (including two friends of mine with no previous interest in cycling - both completely enthralled). Through went the (neutralised) bunch, and off we sped to Your Bike Shed to watch it on TV. Back to Bishy Road after the finish for the latter stages of the wonderful street party. What can I say? I bumped into local activist Pete Gilbain (the man who put cinema into Clements Community Centre) and he commented he was wandering around in tears after the race went through, which summed it up. I've never seen so many people so happy, yet not drunk. It was truly staggering. And what a stage, too.

[mikeh]

As most people know I rode stage 1 on the Saturday. Tremendous experience ranging from empty roads coming out of Harewood House at 4am to the relief of getting through the crowds to Leyburn. From there onwards it was just 15 grown men giggling. Having ridden on these roads more times than I can remember over the last four months the experience was very peculiar. Graham Baxter from Sports Tours international, who was riding with us, just kept on laughing. We were riding on the roads that he had grown up on.
At the flamme rouge we had to wait 20 minutes whilst they painted the finish line. The escort motorcycles came to the top of the hill and we set off together. As we crested the final hill with 700m to go I nearly did one. Looking towards the finish line I have never seen so many people. Very, very special.

After we crossed the line I watched the real riders sprint finish from the grandstand.

On Sunday I was lucky enough to get an invite from the Lord and Lady Mayor, and watched the caravan and peloton hanging out of a first floor window of the Mansion House. I then watched the end of the stage in Your Bike Shed. Great atmosphere.

On Monday morning I received a phone call from someone I know who had spouted for the last 6 months or so that he couldn't understand why we were having a French race in Yorkshire and why cycle when you have a perfectly good car? The tune was well and truly changed. They had watched the peloton from Clifton Green. They had never had a better day, and they were going to watch the rest of the Tour.

The roads we cycle on each week have been blessed. We all know that there is something special about the routes we ride each week. Now the world knows too.

[GrahamMartin]

Great to read everyone else's stories. I may hold some sort of club record, though.

Stage 1 - Harrogate: Partner and I jumped onto a train that was full already, only to have more people climb on board. In Harrogate we pottered around the finish area then headed for the fan park - friend handed us wristbands he'd picked up at work, and we helped ourselves to burgers and soft drinks on the company. (I'll let you guess which). Coming back we joined the Leeds queue instead of the York queue, then jumped on a fairly empty train to York. We pitied anyone in the York queue, as it looked like they might be waiting till the next morning.

Stage 2 - York: popped round to the race course and got a spot near-ish the front for sign-on. This turned out to be a brilliant plan. Barely saw the moment they set off, but got a good view of York from the air via big screen. Went home, got my gear sorted, went to station for Doncaster train. Pleasantly surprised by lack of crowds. Got to Doncaster to see a two-car stopper full of passengers leaving - I was right, no point trying to get a bike on to that. Cycled A630 through Rotherham to Meadowhall, and hit the route just as the caravan sped past.

Stage 2: Sheffield - I walked the route backways from 3 kms to 5 kms, taking me up Jenkin Road backwards. Amazing to see a local community having the day of it's life, though with no commentary, many drifted once second bunch went through. Stood by the first bend of the descent awaiting the peloton. Great views, but sadly I'd left my phone at home, so I didn't find out who won until I reached the station - which I did by first following on from the broom wagon. Took the 'detour' and arrived in the team bus area in just enough time for a few glimpses. Most amusing moment: a scrum by a Canondale car that turned out to contain no riders. It was Sagan's bike they were after! Spotted Froomey, Eisel, Kwiato and Kittel on my rounds. I ended up changing into civvies in the bike van of the "East Midlands Trains Additional Tour de France Service from Sheffield to Cambridge".

Stage 3: Great Shelford, Cambridge - My godparents and I pedalled out to see the race, and bumped in Andrew, a friend of mine and Greg Melia's Channel-Med-via-Vontoux partner (see Cliftonite edition ?). We stood on the apex of the bridge over the King's Cross line and waited. Cambridge Cycling Club swept past en masse (publicity stunt?) and then the race traffic began to intensify. The breakaway were hard at it when they passed, but the bunch were tranquillo. We grabbed lunch and watched on Parker's Piece, before Andrew and I took the road north to my parents at Downham Market for dinner.

Four times in three days, if you count the fan park. I also knicked some of the event signage that was being disposed of. It may appear at future Clifton events if people ask far enough in advance.